Now, this was an interesting room. Cancer emerged from the tunnel from Polaris with a gasp. Yet again, Origin Cave was leaving him breathless. He stared across at first, at the strange shapes of stone and cystal, towers and walls, though he wasn't sure what either were. This place, if he hadn't already become so attached to Pisces, could've been the perfect home to the cat, who preferred high places- and this cave had lots. As he scanned the walls upward, the cat found himself yet again losing air at the sight that met him.

Bright, dazzling ceiling, covered in quartz like the walls, but all over. He stepped backwards for a moment and stared, in awe, at the spectacle. He made a note to himself to mention this place to Makyna. If she hadn't already found it in her own travels, then he'd certainly love to share it with her later. Yellow eyes returned to the lay of the stone, and he picked up what looked like a good, secluded spot- an elevated place with walls around it. Satisfied that the spot was good for some alone time, the leopard cub picked up the pace and headed over.

He arrived at the Throne's base not a few moments later, and soon enough, he'd easily made his way to the top. There, he'd settle down again and slide the tablet off his head, laying it flat on the ground in front of him. Can busied himself with the new markings on the tablet for a time, before finally, his adventuring caught up with him, and that burst of energy from Polaris had worn off. He brought the tablet under his chest and with a note that he'd have to explore the ruins of this place to mark the map better, he allowed himself to drift off to sleep, soothed by the soft glow of Orion's crystal stars.

"Speech"

Deep blue eyes shown bright. The light that shown through all of Orion catching the gems and caused them to glow from the shadows of which a cub lurked within. Her body was rigid. Motionless as she simply crouched there frozen with her eyes focused on the object of her sudden interest. Instincts as old as time were acted upon without the young cub even realizing what was going on. She was stalking, slowly moving closer to her target. Her movements so slow, that they were easily missed to an untrained eye.

Just a few feet away on the side of one of these strange structures rested a simple bug. A bug that was soon to find itself as a new plaything for this particular kitten. Within a split second the young clouded leopard cub sprung at the bug. Laughter quickly resonated as the frightened bug quickly took flight and Amaria's paws slapped against the side of the wall just barely missing the cicada she had been able to find. It was quickly trying to escape! But the ever feirce Amaria would refuse to let it escape her grasp!

Quickly the clouded leopard bounded after the bug. Jumping and leaping in attempts to grasp at the Cicada. Her claws extending out of her paws as if to help assist her gain some ground on grasping at the bug that was so eager to get away. She chased it a good ways through the winding pathways. All the way up closer towards the Throne area before she made one final leap at the cicada and finally clutched the bug between her paws as she landed easily on her hind legs, managing to balance there with her long tail as she took no time to chump away at her captured prey.

There weren't anything like the mice or even fish she managed to catch and eat, but they were a nice little snack here and there. A happy, and oh so proud grin tugged the corners of her mouth up as she now rested all four paws against the ground while licking over her chops of any crumbs that may have been left of the Cicada. It was then that she realized she was in a part of Orion she had never been to before and quickly her curiosity brought her attention to the tall looming structure that sat just a few feet away.

She took a few paw steps closer, observing the thing and pondering if she should take a closer. It was a silly question really. Of course she was going to have a better look! With that in mind the young kitten quickly jogged closer and closer to the thing, very unaware of the gembound that was already up there. The closer she got, the quicker her pace became. She could jump up to it! She knew she could. Vaguely she wondered just what the view from that perch would be! By the time she got close enough Amaria was running and when she finally decided she was close enough, lunged up from the ground. Aiming to land safely on the Throne.

It was only then, when she was just about to make it over the edge did she take note of the form that was already there and her breath hitched deep in her throat. It was too late. She couldn't change her direction in mid air. All she could utter was a surprised cry as she now went tumbling onto the thrown.

Cancer's nap was cut very short by a sudden yowl of alarm, right in his ear. He didn't get the chance to respond. Before his eyes were even open, another body- not much smaller than his- collided with him from above. He yowled in protest, the sound more savage than he remembered- that adult voice coming in gradually each day- and leapt away in a way only a cat could. With puffed fur and wide eyes, he prepared his magic, horns and eyes glowing bright red as he landed some foot or two away, with his back arched. A new kind of feeling came over him, and before he could stop himself, the new spell was cast...

...and to his horror, a familiar cat became an unwitting victim. He felt her pulse under his coat and instict tightened the grip. For a split second, the flow of blood would halt completely, and press downwards- for he'd wanted her down and off of him in that moment. The moment he saw her face, though, he blinked and turned away, knowing it would cut the connection. He felt the release, and the glow of his horns faded quickly, almost flickering out. He leapt away the moment he felt that sense of freedom, and with a gasp, turned to see what damage he'd done to his poor, unwitting friend.

"AMARIA! Oh gods below, I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't know what was happening! I didn't mean it, I swear! Are you okay? Shit, I'm so sorry!" Guilt washed over him and he wailed in alarm, truly disgusted with himself. How could he have done that? What had he even done just now? He'd never felt that sort of power from himsef before. It had his heart pumping a mile a minute- or was that the shock of being woken so rudely? As adrenaline wore off, though, he'd later feel the drag of this burst of magic, and the new spell he'd cast. For now, he'd never felt more alive- nor horrified!

"Speech"

It all happened so quickly. At least maybe for Cancer. For Amaria, everything was going so slow it felt like she was suffocating. A strange sensation washed over her very being. Grasping deadly claws deep within her. She grew heavier and heavier as the sensation completely devoured her. She couldn't breathe. Couldn't move. She was fairly certain her heart had even stopped beating. It was as if she had froze in time. Left to float in air as this sensation overwhelmed her. Alas, that wouldn't be the case and just like that some strange force threw her down. It slammed her hard against the throne's seat.

Her breath was knocked right out of her and now she wheezed. Desperately trying to bring air to her aching lungs. Pain shocked up through her ribs from where she had been slammed against the throne's seat. Her eyes wide with sheer terror and panic. A gasping sound gurgled from her throat as she continued to struggle to bring in the needed oxygen. Yet every time she tried to take a breath more pain shot through her side and chest. When everything finally began to work and she was able to take her first shuddering breath a wail of pain left the young cub as she was now wracked with more pain than she had ever felt.

It hurt to breathe. Every breath she took was another shocking stab against her ribs. Tears quickly welled up in her still wide eyes. Can's voice was barely recognized. A jumble of mess that she couldn't even try to focus on and decipher. However, the tone in his voice did little to calm the now frantic cub who was left to do nothing but lay there and cry in pain with each breath she took. Her little body attempted to curl into itself, but the movement only jarred her now injured ribs and another strangled cry ripped right out Amaria and she had to grip her stunning blue eyes close tight in hopes that it would stop the pain.

How wrong was she in hoping that. Too young to try and comprehend that she should just stop trying to move, or to even slow and lower her breathing, Amaria could do nothing but cry. It hurt so bad. Yet even in her pain, confusion wrapped around her. What had happened? That strange sensation that had clutched at her very being. What had caused it? WHO had caused it? Her eyes opened again and this time they were not clouded and blurry with the pain she was still feeling and she could now see Cancer a few steps away. Cancer. She knew him. He was her leopard pal! They were both leopards and it had the promises of becoming good friends. Or at least that is what Amaria had thought. "Caa--ancer?" His name came in a wheezed and very cracked voice. Even talking seemed to make her ribs hurt even more.

"Where...what..." She struggled to get the words out. Trying desperately to fight over the pain that coursed through her as she could do nothing but lay there and take it. "It hurts..." She finally cried out, giving up trying to ask what had happened. Surely it hadn't been Cancer to cause this. He wouldn't hurt her...- Would he?

Cancer felt his heart drop in his chest at the sound of Amaria's cries. He looked around in a panic, as if searching for some help, but to his dismay, they were alone. Anxiously stepping side to side, the cub battled with himself on what to do now- a part of him wanted to run, and run fast, far away. Abandon this crime scene and Amaria with it, pretend he was never there. He liked the little leopardess though. He knew he couldn't live with himself if he left her like this. As he paced on this, Amaria made his choice for him with a feeble gasp of his name. His soul shattered in that moment and he froze, as if stricken, staring at her. Oh gods, oh gods, oh gods. Now he definitely couldn't run away. He had to face facts, and help his friend- but every time he tried to help, someone got hurt or angry.

The cub forfeited though, and soon came to lay before her, on his belly, with a soft cooning sound from his throat. He felt like sobbing but he was too scared, too wired on adrenaline to think past trying to calm his racing heart- and her heart-breaking cries.

"Amaria, oh gods, Ammy, I'm so sorry. I was sleeping, and then I woke up and didn't know- I didn't know, I'm so sorry." He whined shrilly. What had he done!? What had he done? He'd never used that sort of magic before. It was terrifying. He never wanted to do anything like that again. Never. Oh, but he hadn't even meant to. It was instinctive. Lightning fast response to an attack, or so he'd thought. "Ammy, don't talk, just breath, okay? Just, slow breaths, it'll be okay. I swear it'll be okay. I'm so sorry, Am. Oh, gods, how could I ever make this up to you, oh gods..." Then, in a moment of weakness, the black leopard cub curled his face into his chest and sobbed. What had he done!?

"Speech"

His words spoken were only half way heard. It was as if his voice would just fade out where she couldn't hear, before they were back to normal and she could. She struggled for a moment, trying to hear what he was saying. Slow breaths. Just slow breaths. His words were soon bringing the chaos of her mind to a more steady nature. No longer could she not think straight and now she would do as he suggested. She slowed her breathing, easing it off until it was just a soft, shallow intake of air. It still hurt, but not quite as much as it had when she was gasping in breaths of air. Her tail flicked at it's tip as she pried open her eyes to look at Cancer. Her ears were still pinned back, mostly from the pain, but a new sensation was starting to overwhelm her. It sent a knot to her stomach with the sensation of being sick. Fear?

His crying seemed to catch her attention so Amaria quickly pushed that feeling away. She did not want to feel that feeling towards Cancer. He was her friend, right? He said he hadn't meant to do whatever it was that had been done, but did he really? It had to be. He was crying. Amaria sniffled a moment, only to wince when even that sent shocks of pain throughout her body starting at her ribs. Shakily, and very slowly, she reached out a paw and sat it upon Cancer's own paw that was closest to her. "Its o...okay..." She nearly wheezed. She must have missed the part where he said she probably shouldn't talk. It definitely hurt to do so that was for sure. Deciding that was all she needed to say for a moment she kept her paw on his, as if to comfort him and to show she was not angry or anything. Frightened was another thing however, but she still pushed that feeling far away from her thoughts.

After what seemed like eternity Amaria began to grow restless. Her body hurt all over. Especially around her ribs, but she didn't want to lay there much longer. She wanted to sit up and show Cancer that it wasn't serious regardless how serious she was unaware of it being. Gathering up her courage to attempt it Amaria began to shift ever so slowly. Just as she was about to shift and try to get a paw under her to push herself up. Paralyzing pain suddenly wracked her body again and it was all she could do not to cry out in pain again. Instead she clenched her eyes shut and decided it was probably best to just lay here for now until the pain decided it would go away.

Amaria tried to get up, but Cancer willed her not to. She slipped back down as expected and the sound she let loose made his skin crawl. She'd promised him she was okay, but she wasn't and he knew it without being told. The leopard sucked back another sob. He'd done this. He'd done this horrible thing for no good reason. He really was horrible, just like the others had said about him. I break everything.

"Stay still, Amaria. Don't move, don't talk, it's okay. Just be still." He murmured softly, encouragingly, despite the tears threatening to spill. "I swear nothing will hurt you ever again. I swear." He inched closer and pressed a paw over hers. "I'm so sorry, Amaria..."

But what could he do? He couldn't dare try to lift her, to carry her out. She was almost as big as him now, and her injuries could be more severe than they looked. She couldn't walk out. He couldn't just leave her- god knows what monster might find her in this unknown place. He searched the cave for any chance, and sign of help. Those horns lit up again as he cast out that one spell he'd all but mastered; Red Sense...

...but with the strain of his surprise defense, that strange new spell, his magic fizzled uselessly like flickering lights. He released the effort he'd put in, and collapsed himself down beside Amaria in defeat. I did this... I did this horrible thing and now I must deal with it myself. Oh, gods, how do I help her? What should I do? "I... don't know what to do..." Again, he was wracked with a painful sob, which this time he couldn't hold back. "I'm so sorry...!"

{ art by fennecfyre } ~ { table by aura . edited by banshee }

"Speech"

Amaria gave a faint smile as Cancer settled himself close to her, resting his paw atop her own. A soft purring emitted from her chest, almost as if Amaria was trying to comfort Cancer in his frenzied panic. Her mind was still in a whirl of pain, but something seemed to be easing off. She was either finally starting to feel better, or her body was finally reacting to the excruciating amounts of pain and started to numb off the parts that hurt the most. Dark spots were suddenly fluttering around in her gaze so she blinked rapidly a couple times to try to get the strange things away, but in doing so it seemed the dark spots were growing in size, covering her gaze almost entirely and for a moment the cub began to panic.

Unsure of what was happening with her vision a soft whimper escaped the cub as she clenched her eyes shut. She held them shut for the longest moments, unaware that her consciousness was slowly trying to slip away and cast her into an unconscious state. The feeling was foreign to her and she would most definitely fight it. Peeling her eyes open again she tried to focus her attention on Cancer. She wanted to say something to him. Wanted to try and tell him that it would be okay; even if she didn't feel like it would be deep inside. It was strange seeing Cancer upset and Amaria most certainly did not enjoy the feeling she got from it. for now she quietly lay there, trying desperately to clear out her fogged mind she could think clearly again.

"Speech"

For a long moment Amaria simply lay there motionless. Trying to keep her breathing at an easy pace. Slowly her tail flicked up and down from it's tip, but nothing else Amaria dared to move. Her mind kept floating between the sheer darkness and the present of light. Her gaze had finally blurred out to the point where she had to keep her eyes closed. Soft sniffs escaped her however, and her paw had kept firmly over Cancer's just to make sure he knew she was not upset. It also kept her mind at ease knowing she was not alone and left defenseless.

There was no telling what would show up if he left her there by herself and find her easy pickings. The thought made her shiver involuntarily, instantly jarring the wounded ribs and chest. It left a soft cry of pain escaping pass her muzzle and she curled her toes as if it would help her to keep better control of it. Her fighting off of the unconsciousness that was threateningly clawing at her, desperate to pull her off into the darkness was slowly waning. Leaving her mind to slip even further into the darkness until it slowly consumed her. Before she could prevent it anymore her world was wrapped into darkness, falling into the clutches of unconsciousness.